THE PIN-TAILED DUCK. 283 



in different portions of the North American continent. 

 Although not unfrequently found upon the coast, they are 

 much more numerous on the swamp and sloughs of the 

 interior. Strictly migratory in their habits, they are in- 

 variably .the earliest visitors of the duck family that 

 denote the termination of winter, and the last to tell that 

 autumn is about to give place to the season of snow and 

 ice. They breed away up in the far north among the 

 innumerable lakes and rivulets of the Hudson Bay terri- 

 tory, and pass their winter in the swamps and lagoons 

 scattered over the seaboard of Texas and other southern 

 states. 



They are very swift and powerful upon the wing, and 

 require as much hitting, if not more, than any bird of their 

 size, therefore No. 3 shot and a ten-bore gun should be 

 used. They are also very wary, and unless in a snow- 

 storm, when they appear to become bewildered, great 

 patience and skill are necessary to make a successful stalk 

 upon them. In seeking for them, the sportsman must be 

 guided entirely by not only the season of the year, but by 

 its severity, if on the western prairies, where I have seen 

 them in immense numbers; the day or two preceding the 

 freezing up of the sloughs they are certain to be found in 

 abundance ; again, in spring, immediately after thaw has 

 commenced. 



From their delicacy of flavour, they are much sought 

 after ; but their destruction is inconsiderable from the 

 reason I have above stated; however, drainage and 

 agriculture are certain ultimately to drive them from 

 what are now their favourite haunts. 



